Cardboard box



April 13, 1943. N. G. THOR 2,316,469

CARDBOARD Box Filed April 22. 1941 fINVENTOR. /v/s 605ml/ THOR ?atented pnl, 1943 garant erstes csnneoenn nox Application April 22, 1941, Serial No. 339ml@ (Cl. 20d-58) 6 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to containers and has particular reference to a card- 'board box intended to accommodate a roll of waxed paper or the like.

A general object of my invention is to provide certain structural improvements in the wellknown type of box in which a cutter is associated with the edge ofone of the walls of the box to allow withdrawn lengths of paper to be conveniently severed from the balance of the roll. The invention has particular reference to the type of box in which the cutter is secured to the upper' matter or other embellishment may be attractively displayed.

A box constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a front wall and an end wall, the end Wall having an attachment ap that overlaps the front Wall, and the box structure being of such a character that its maintenance in set-up condition depends upon the attachment of this flap to the front wall. In practicing the invention, this attachment is accomplished in a highly eilcient manner by taking advantage of the cutter that is secured to the front wall. By securing this cutter to the attachment iiap that is carried by the end wall, it serves thereby to maintain the box in set-,up

condition.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the box is composed of a single cardboard sheet having hingedly connected panels adapted to deiine the various walls of the box. These walls include not only the front wall previously mentioned, but also a bottom wall, a rear wall, a cover, and opposite end walls. The blank or sheet is so shaped and scored that the single operation of securing the cutter to the free edge of the front wall may be relied upon to hold the entire box together in set-up condition.

The cutter which I prefer to employ consists of a metal strip provided with fastening elements, such as prongs, that engage and grip the cardboard to which the strip is secured. To allow certain of these fasteningvelements to effect a direct gripping engagement with the attachment ilaps that are carried by the end walls, the invention provides for specially-formed openings in Vthe front wall in front of these attachment aps.

I achieve the foregoing objects, asuch. other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplied in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l. is a perspective view of a cardboard box constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown in closed condition but with no paper protruding therefrom; A

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken su stantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing one manner in which paper from an accommodated roll may be withdrawn from the box;

Figure 3 is a plan view oi a single cardboard blank of which the box may be composed:

Figure Il is a perspective View similar to Figure 1 showing the box open and empty;

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged cross-sectional views, respectively, taken along the lines -t and 6 6 of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred form oi cutter strip prior to its attachment to the box.

The box structure herein chosen for illustration is composed essentially lof the single sheet or blank of cardboard shown in Figure 3. This blank is divided by score lines it, il, i2 and i3, into substantially rectangular hingedly connected panels iii-Iii inclusive. By score lines it, rectangular panels 2@ are hinged to the opposite ends of the panel it. Each panel 2t carries the lateral naps 2l and 22 and the attachment ap 23.

When the box is to be assembled, the panel it is brought into upright position and is adapted to constitute the front wall of the box. The bottom wall is formed of the panel i5, and the rear wall is constituted of the panel it.' By means of the hinge i2 the panel il constitutes a cover for the box, and the narrower panel i8 serves as a tuck-in flap.

The panels 2@ define the end walls of the box structure, and it'wlll be observed that they are hinged to the rear wall it. When the box is to be set up, the naps 22 lare caused to overlie the opposite ends of the bottom wall i5, the aps 2i are adapted to fold inwardly over the contents of the box, as shown in Figure 4, and the attachment flaps 23 are brought into overlapping relationship with the opposite end portions of the front wall it. Preferably, the attachment aps 23 are disposed behind the front wall is, and have a height substantially equal to the height of the front wall fi.

For a purpose presently to be explained, it has been found desirable to provide openings 24 in the front wall I4, to expose corresponding portions of the attachment flaps 23. The openings 24 may be substantially rectangular, as shown. and are preferably cut into the wall I4 from the free edge 25. Necessarily, the openings 24 are close to the ends of the Wall I4, so that the attachment flaps 23 will be positioned behind them.

When the various panels have been adjusted into the set-up relationship, it will be found that the box can be maintained in set-up condition by securing the attachment naps 23 to the front wall I4. The present invention takes advantage of this characteristic of the box structure, and accomplishes the desired result simultaneously with the attachment of the cutter to the box.

This cutter preferably consists of a thin metal strip 2B provided with fastening elements adapted to engage and grip the cardboard to which the strip is secured. I have illustratively shown the strip 26 provided with a series of struck-up prongs 21 arranged at spaced intervals longitudinally along the strip. By means of a suitable pressing tool (not shown) this strip can be secured to the free edge in a single operation which presses plished, in practice, with the aid of a suitablyshaped anvil or table forming part of a machine which also accommodates a continuous supply of the pronged strip material and is provided with means for forming a cutter strip of desired length as each box is ready to be assembled.

The securing of the cutter 2E to the upper edge 25 of the front wall I4 is accompanied by a simultaneous securing of this strip to the attachment flaps 23. The openings 24 facilitate this action. allowing certain of the'prongs 21 to come into direct gripping engagement with the attachment flaps 23, as shown most clearly in Figure 6.

In initially constructing the blank of Figure 3. it is preferable to provide a weakened elliptical region 28 extending across the hinge line I3. When the box is ready for use, the material within this region is broken out and discarded, thereby leaving an opening through which the finger of the user may be conveniently inserted to contact a roll of paper that is accommodated within the box.

It will be observed that the external surfaces of the box, including the end walls 20, are entirely smooth and uninterrupted by folds or overlaps, thereby aiTording convenient and attractive areas upon which advertising matter or other embellishment may be placed. It will also be observed that, notwithstanding the fact that the cutter is the only extraneous element used in the construction, its simultaneous engagement with the front wall I4 and with the attachment aps 23 is sufficient to hold the entire box in proper set-up condition. It is because of this fact that the box may be so inexpensively manufactured. since the amount of material needed and the manipulations required of an operator can both be kept to a minimum.

After the box is constructed, as shown in Figure 4, it is ready to be filled with a roll of paper which I have illustratively shown in Figure 2 and designated by the reference numeral 29. The flaps 2I are turned inwards over the roll, and the cover I1 is folded down with the flap I8 optionally tucked inside of the box or left on the outside of the front wall I4. In either case, a label or paster may be applied by the manufacturer to seal the box in closed condition, although it is not always desirable or customary to provide any such added sealing means.

When the box is to be used, the cover may be thrown back in the conventional manner and the desired length of paper withdrawn and severed along the top edge of the cutter in the obvious manner. However, if it is desired to keep the main portion of the roll in covered condition, the paper may be Withdrawn as indicated in Figure 2 by threading it out of the box through the space between the tucked-in cover and the front wall. In such an event, the access opening 28 is useful to facilitate the severing operation.

While I have chosen to illustrate a box of substantially square or rectangular cross-section, it will be understood that the invention is not necessarily restricted to any such shape or kind of box.

In general, it will be understood that those skilled in the art may make changes in the detalls herein described and illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is, therefore, intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A box comprising a cardboard sheet having panels adapted to define the Walls of the box including a front wall and end walls, each end wall carrying an attachment flap which overlaps the front wall, the box structure being of such a character that its maintenance depends on the attachment of said flaps to said front Wall, and a cutter secured to the edge of the front wall and also to said attachment flaps thereby attaching the latter to said front wall.

2. A box comprising a cardboard sheet having panels adapted to define the walls of the box including a front wall, a rear wall, and end walls. each end wall being hinged to the rear wall and carrying an attachment flap which overlaps the front wall, the box structure being of such a character that its maintenance depends on the attachmentof said flaps to said front wall, and a cutter secured to the edge of the front wall and also to said attachment flaps thereby attachingA the latter to said front wall.

3. A box comprising a single cardboard blank composed of hngedly connected panels adapted to define the walls of the box including a front wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, a cover, and end walls, each end wall being hinged to the rear wall and carrying an attachment flap which lies behind the front wall, the front wall having openings near its ends in front of said attachment flaps, and a cutter secured to the upper edge of the front wall and also to said attachment flaps thereby securing the latter to the front wall and maintaining the box in set-up condition, said cutter comprising a metal strip provided with fastening elements adapted to engage and grip the cardboard to which the strip is secured, certain of said fastening elements extending through said front wall openings into direct gripping engagement with said attachment naps.

4. A box comprising a cardboard sheet having panels adapted to define the walls of the box including a front wall and end Walls, each end wall carrying an attachment flap which overlaps the front wall, the box structure being of such a character that its maintenance depends on the attachment of said flaps to said front wall, and a cutter secured to the edge of the front wall, said Y 6. A box comprising a cardboard sheet havingv front wall being formed with openings through which said aps are directly engaged and gripped by said cutter.

5. A box comprising a cardboard sheet having panels adapted to define the walls of the box including a front wall and end walls, each end wall carrying an attachment flap which overlaps the front wall, the box structure being of such a character that its maintenance depends on the attachment of said flaps to said front wall, and 10 a cutter secured to the edge of the front wall and also to said attachment aps thereby attaching the latter to said front wall, said cutter comprising a metal strip provided with fastening elements adapted to engage and grip the cardboard 15 to which the strip is secured, certain of said fastening elements engaging and gripping said attachment flaps.

panels adapted to define the walls of the box including a front wall and end walls, each end wall formed with openings through which said flaps are directly engaged and gripped by certain of said fastening elements. x

Nrns GUsTAV THon. 

